Lassulás

Lassulás is a Hungarian term describing the process of slowing down or the reduction of the rate of change of a quantity. It is used across scientific, technical, and everyday language to refer to deceleration, relaxation of processes, or diminishing growth. The word comes from lassú, meaning slow.

In physics and engineering, lassulás refers to the deceleration of a moving body caused by opposing forces such as friction, air resistance, or braking. The motion can be described by deceleration a = Δv/Δt, and in many systems the velocity decreases exponentially with a characteristic time constant τ. In mechanical systems, damping is represented by c in equations m x'' + c x' + k x = 0, and the degree of damping determines whether the system returns to equilibrium with or without oscillations.

In electrical engineering, similar relaxation processes occur in circuits. RC and RL circuits relax toward a steady state with a time constant determined by resistance and capacitance or inductance, a mathematical form of lassulás observed in voltage and current transients.

In traffic engineering and transport planning, lassulás describes the slowing of traffic flow due to braking, congestion, road design, weather, or accidents. It influences energy consumption, emissions, and safety, and is a focus of measures such as smoother braking, adaptive speed limits, and improved road geometry.

In economics and sociology, lassulás is used to describe a slowdown in growth, production, or activity after periods of expansion. It can reflect cyclical downturns or structural changes in a system.